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Tampa's Fred Ridley will be the 58th president of the United States Golf Association and will serve a one-year term beginning with the governing body's annual meeting on Feb. 7 in Orlando, the organization announced Thursday.
Ridley, 51, the 1975 U.S. Amateur champion, is an attorney and partner in the Tampa office of Foley & Lardner. A 1974 graduate of the University of Florida and 1977 graduate of Stetson University College of Law, Ridley competed in 15 USGA championships, including 10 U.S. Amateurs and a U.S. Open. He also competed in three Masters.
"I'm looking forward to it," Ridley said. "It's a great honor and great responsibility. I've got some preliminary goals that I'm developing."
His association with the USGA goes back to his Amateur victory. Ridley was a member of the 1976 U.S. Walker Cup team, and captained the team in 1987 and '89. In the early 1990s, he was asked if he'd like to serve on the executive committee.
A member of Augusta National as well as Tampa clubs Old Memorial and Palma Ceia, Ridley is the last Amateur champion who never turned professional.
For the past four years, Ridley, a USGA vice president, served as chairman of the USGA's championship committee, the group responsible for conducting all USGA competitions, as well as selecting and setting up courses.
The USGA governs golf in this country. Ridley will take over for retiring president Reed Mackenzie.